The ground crumbled beneath Kael, and before he could react, he plummeted into darkness. Heat and ash surged around him as the cavern floor gave way, and the world tilted violently. He struck the ground with a hard thud, rolling to a stop on the molten stone. The air was searing, thick with the scent of burning rock.
Coughing, Kael pushed himself to his feet. His body ached from the fall, but nothing seemed to be broken. He scanned his surroundings—a vast chamber lined with fire runes, each flickering with ancient power.
In the center of the chamber stood a stone pedestal, atop which rested a glowing Fire Affinity Stone.
But his gaze quickly shifted to something far more ominous. Standing near the pedestal was a figure wreathed in flame, its armor cracked and glowing with molten light. A flaming greatsword rested in its hands, and twin orbs of ember-like eyes burned beneath its helm.
The figure raised its head, its voice echoing through the chamber, low and commanding.
"Another Keeper seeks to prove their worth. Few survive."
The Flame Warden stepped forward, fire swirling around its feet with each movement. "Show me if you are worthy of the Orchard's power… or be consumed by the flames."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "If it's a fight you want, you'll get one."
The Warden moved faster than Kael anticipated. One second, it stood at the far side of the chamber; the next, its flaming sword came crashing down toward him. Kael rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike as the ground where he had stood melted into a pool of molten rock.
He barely had time to react as the Warden pivoted, sweeping its blade in a wide arc. Kael parried, sparks flying from the clash of steel against flame, but the force of the blow sent him skidding backward.
This thing's fast.
The Warden pressed its attack, slashing and thrusting with brutal efficiency. Kael struggled to keep up, his sword meeting each strike with growing difficulty. The heat was relentless, sweat pouring down his face and stinging his eyes.
Then, it changed tactics. The Warden raised a hand, and a wave of fire erupted from the ground, forcing Kael to leap onto a nearby stone platform.
"Running will not save you," the Warden said, its voice calm but filled with menace.
Kael smirked despite the heat. "I'm not running."
He launched himself from the platform, his sword swinging down in a powerful arc. The Warden raised its blade to block, but Kael twisted mid-air, changing his strike at the last second. His blade sliced across the Warden's chest, leaving a glowing line in its armor.
The Warden staggered, but its eyes burned brighter. "Good… but not enough."
The Warden planted its greatsword into the ground, and the entire chamber trembled. Pillars of flame erupted around Kael, cutting off his escape routes. The Warden charged, its blade glowing with molten energy.
Kael met the charge head-on. He blocked the first strike, deflected the second, and then countered with a quick thrust, aiming for the crack in the Warden's armor.
The Warden caught his blade with its gauntlet, flames swirling around its hand. "Your swordplay is raw… but there is strength in your persistence."
Kael gritted his teeth and twisted his sword free, slashing upward. The Warden stumbled back, the flames around its body flickering erratically.
The Warden steadied itself, raising its sword for a final attack. The fire around it surged, and the air in the chamber grew unbearably hot. Kael knew he couldn't block this one. He had to end it first.
He rushed forward, dodging to the side as the Warden brought its sword down in a devastating swing. The ground exploded in molten rock, but Kael was already inside the Warden's guard.
With a roar, Kael drove his sword straight into the Warden's exposed core. The Warden froze, its ember-like eyes flickering.
Then it nodded. "You have proven yourself… Keeper."
The flames surrounding its body dimmed, revealing an ancient but noble face beneath the cracked helm. "Take the Fire Affinity Stone. It is yours… and so am I. My strength will awaken when you have need of it."
The Warden's body dissolved into a swirling flame, merging with Kael's sword. The hilt glowed briefly before returning to its normal state, the weight in Kael's hand feeling subtly different.
Kael turned toward the pedestal, his breath still coming in ragged gasps. He reached for the Fire Affinity Stone and tucked it into his storage ring.
The chamber shook violently.
Kael's eyes snapped toward the far end of the cavern, where a massive stone archway had opened. Beyond it lay the heart of Emberroot Cavern, a swirling cauldron of molten energy that illuminated the darkness.
From the depths of the cauldron rose a chaotic, shifting mass of molten rock and fire, its body constantly shifting and reforming—eyes of pure white flame burned with wild intensity.
Kael stared at the creature, his fingers tightening around his sword. The Emberroot Ravager had awakened.